AUTHOR=Sultana Rashida , Kiran Aysha , Sanaullah Muhammad , Wakeel Abdul 

TITLE=Exploring the linkage between root system architecture and grain iron content in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1156728

DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2023.1156728

ISSN=2571-581X

ABSTRACT=Iron (Fe) is a vital element equally important for plants, animals and humans. High Fe concentration in wheat grains have reliance on plant roots- a hidden half of the plant with a role in nutrient mining. Enhanced grain Fe content of wheat can positively mitigate the Fe malnutrition in poor populations. In a present study, 100 wheat varieties were studied to identify the root architectural characteristics in relation to grain Fe concentration. Germinated seeds were transplanted in rhizobox kept in a standard nutrient solution, and were harvested 12 days after transplanting. Roots were scanned and the images were processed using smart root software. Twelve wheat varieties which had a vigorous and weaker root system architecture (RSA), in combination with higher and lower Fe grain concentration were selected using principal component analysis. The uptake and translocation of Fe from root to shoot were determined through a pot experiment conducted for the above-mentioned 12 wheat varieties, with or without Fe fertilizer applied as FeSO4 to the soil. The data obtained from  the pot experiment revealed that Dharbi-11 with vigorous RSA exhibited the highest grain Fe concentration (57.20 mg kg-1), low phytate concentration (6.50 mg kg-1) and maximum 1000 grain weight, whereas, Ujala-16 with weaker RSA showed lowest grain Fe concentration (13.33 mg kg-1), highest phytate concentration (9.07 mg kg-1) and  lowest  1000 grain weight. Nevertheless, there were also varieties showing higher grain Fe concentration with weaker RSA and vice versa. Although it is indicated that vigorous RSA leads to high grain Fe concentration, it is not the sole factor for high grain Fe concentration. Nevertheless, the results demonstrate that large genetic diversity is available among indigenous wheat germplasm considering grain Fe concentration and RSA. This information may be utilized in the development of new varieties through conventional as well as marker-assisted breeding programs using RSA traits for Fe biofortification in wheat, leading to mitigate Fe malnutrition.